+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
Sven-Goran ErikssonGetty

'Life is about death as well' - Terminally ill ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson sends poignant goodbye message to football world

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Eriksson revealed terminal illness in January
  • Reflects on life in new documentary
  • Swede led England's 'Golden Generation'
  • Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.Getty

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    In January, Eriksson revealed that he has terminal cancer and has "at best" one year left to live. In the upcoming Amazon Prime documentary 'Sven', which explores the life of the former England boss, the Swede sends a poignant goodbye message to the football world, describing his career in the game as "fantastic".

  • Advertisement
  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Eriksson made tabloid headlines in England for his off-pitch affairs, but his achievements as a manager shouldn't be forgotten about. He won league titles in Portugal and Italy, and is hailed in the documentary by David Beckham for "making [England] fans believe".

  • Sven-Goran ErikssonGetty Images

    WHAT ERIKSSON SAID

    "I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well," Eriksson says at the end of the documentary. "You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end people will say, yeah, he was a good man, but everyone will not say that.

    "I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don't be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it's been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it."

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Earlier this year, Eriksson fulfilled his lifelong dream to manage Liverpool at Anfield when he led a team of Liverpool legends against Ajax, receiving a wonderful ovation from the crowd. "A memory for life," the 76-year-old said afterwards. "Everybody was the winner today. It was beautiful, absolutely incredible."

  • David Beckham Sven-Goran ErikssonGetty

    WHAT NEXT?

    The 'Sven' documentary will be released on August 23 and features appearances from Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Roberto Mancini, Kasper Schmeichel and more.